Mendelssohn, Glazunov: Violin Concertos

I can't find words to do justice to the explosive and gorgeous power of Leila Josefowicz' performance of the Mendelssohn. The energy, the force, the passion, the sustained perfection of this is beyond breathtaking. Leila has long been my favorite violinist but this performance outranks anything I've ever heard her do. The other two compositions were new to me and her playing was utterly dazzling. I want to listen to these over and over again till I know them as well as the Mendelssohn. I wish I could convey what this music accomplishes. It is raw yet polished; flawless yet seemingly spontaneous; lustrous, dark, and astonishingly fierce. There's an immense courage and boldness to Leila's playing that the technique always completely supports. It's overwhelming. The whole recording is priceless. I listened to it in a trance. You have to hear it for yourself to grasp this.

We are currently in a Golden Age of violin playing. In other reviews I have especially praised recordings by Gil Shaham, Sarah Chang, and Akiko Suwanai -- all of whom are outstanding violinists. But, even in this Golden Age of the violin, this recording -- combined with her earlier recordings of the Tchaikovsky and Sibelius violin concertos and Bohemian Rhapsodies -- causes me to conclude that Leila Josefowicz may well be the finest violinist currently recording. Josefowicz has everything: a beautiful tone, flawless technique and intonation, and artistic sensitivity. And, unlike some of the other outstanding young violinists -- who have made some great recordings, but also other recordings lacking somewhat in commitment and artistry -- Josefowicz plays each piece with total dedication and passion. Her performance of the Medelssohn concerto (the highlight of this CD) is simply sublime -- unsurpassed by any I've ever heard. Although the Glazounov concerto and Valse-Scherzo by Tchaikovsky are lesser works, they are quite pleasant and Josefowicz plays them with equal commitment. If you love great violin playing, please get this CD.

I first noticed Leila's records because of the unusual first name that she shares with my wife. [Apparently a fairly common Arabic name...don't know why, as the meaning isn't particularly nice]. Anyway, after listening, I got hooked......I'm on record as saying that Leila is the most gorgeous violinist ever, and saying the same of Sarah Chang; consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, and, here, physical beauty is irrelevant.......This is a fabulous album...the most widly played concerto in the repertoire, another very popular one, and a great encore piece. Everybody and his brother/sister has done the Mendelssohn...some few have even done it well, and Leila is as great as any [if you leave Mischa Elman out of the discussion]. The Glazunov isn't quite as well-known, but this could well be the standard. The Tchaikovsky makes a charming encore/filler.Go ahead; accuse me of being attracted to girls with sexy names...Leila is NOT just a beautiful girl; she is the violinist of our day [yes, there are others; we are lucky]. The sound, and orchestral back-up, are all we could ask....grab this great record, and see what all the fuss is about.

This is violin-playing of tremendous power and at the same time, finesse. Josefowicz has dazzling technique and interpretive intelligence and taste which place her in the stratosphere of the greatest violinists. (No, I'm not her dad.) Her playing of the Mendelssohn walks the fine line of conveying romance without ever being overly sentimental, and also conveys great inner strength and confidence. Her intonation is perfect. Her vibrato is always appropriate. Her phrasing is intelligent, very musical and interesting, not exaggerated. Her range of color is very appealing; her tone is beautiful. So what else do you want? (A concert video or two of this magnificent artist would be nice!)

This is an absolutely gorgeous disc. The Mendelssohn is one of my favorite pieces, and Leila does a tremendous job with it. I highly recommend this disc, as well as her other recordings, which are all wonderful. I think it is a shame Leila doesn't get as much public attention and fame as some of her other young counterparts do--she truly deserves it.

Beautiful young Leila Josefowicz is more known on the concert stages of the world for her enduring commitment to contemporary music, being frequently awarded works for premieres by composers who appreciate her musicality, her astounding technical prowess, and her passionate ability to communicate with her audiences. But that is not to say that she ignores the standard repertoire as is evidenced by this outstanding recording.Josefowicz offers a Mendelssohn Violin Concerto that ranks with the finest. In collaboration with Charles Dutoit and the Montreal Symphony Orchestra this full-bodied performance has all the elegance of line, the heartfelt romance of the melodic inventions, and the amazing facility to toss off the rapid pages with joyful abandon. It is simply a great Mendelssohn interpretation.Glazanov's A minor Violin Concerto was once a staple of the repertoire but has in recent years declined in performances. Josefowicz adds new freshness to this lovely melodic warhorse and in her hands gives reason to reexamine the work. To round off the CD is Tchaikovsky's much-loved 'Valse-scherzo for violin and orchestra' and here this little bon-bon feels like an appreciated encore offered to her audience. The playing is cleanly articulated and rich in tone. For those unfamiliar with the gifts of Leila Josefowicz this CD is a fine introduction. Grady Harp, November 05

Leila est une des plus grandes et meilleure que des plus grands! Etait- ce indispensable de nous refaire un Mendelssohn demi teinte ou Glazunov honorable?....